Cutting-machine



Ci w. BAILEY AND 1. H. STEWART.

CUTTING'NIACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1915.

HENEWED MAR. 161 1920.

Patented July 139 1920.,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C. W. BAILEY AN-D I. H. STEWART.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1915. RENEWED MAR. I6, |920.

um www C. W. BAILEY AND l. H. STEWART. CUTUNG MACHINE APPLlcATloN msn 1111111.25. 1915. RENEWED MAR. 11s. 1920.

Patented July 13, 1920.

6 SHEElS-SHEET 3.

C. W. BAILEY AND l. H. STEWART.

` CUTTING MACHINE. APPLIcATmN man MAR.25.1915. ENEwEo MAR. 16.1920.

r1 ,346,626, Y Patented July 13, 1920.

6 SHEEIS-SHEE'I 4.

C. W. BAILEY AND l. H. STEWART.

' CUTTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1915. IIIiIIIEwEn MAR. 16,1920. 1,346,626. Patented July 13, 1920.

ssIIIsEIs-SIIEEI 5.

e SHEEISHEU b.

c. w. BAILEY/IND I. H. www.

CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25.1915. HENEWEDMAR. I6, 1920. l. Patellis@ July 13,19%;

. j?! I \MI\V j www www@ www, N@ @NU @N UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.

CHARLES W. BAILEY AND JOHN HAMMOND STEVTART,-0F LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS; SAID BAILEY ASSIGNOR TG SAID STEWART.

CUTTINGwMACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1915,l Serial No. 17,009. Renewed March 16, 1920. Serial No. 366,438.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES l/V. BAILEY and JOHN HAMMOND STEWART, both citizens of the United States, and residents oi Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutting- Machines,' of which the 'following is a specification.

The present invention relates to cutting machines, and particularly such as are adapted t0 cut leather and like materials used in making parts which enter into the construction ot'boots and shoes. Uur object is to produce an automatically acting marhine capable of skiving, or cutting on a bevel, such articles as counter sti'l'eners and the like; and particularly to perform the operation known in the art as end clipping,77 which is that of cutting a wide bevel on the ends of a counter stitfener blank. With this object in view, we have developed an operative embodiment of our invention in a machine having knives arranged to act on the two ends of a counter blank simultaneously and a work support designed to hold the blanks at such inclinations to the plane or planes in which the knives operate, and with such capacity for adjustment, that the ends orn the blank may be trimmed or clipped with the desired angle oi bevel; and having a feeding contrivance 'for the blanks, and other novel features of construction hereinafter particularly pointed out in eonnection with the accompanying drawings.

.eis the invention consists in a` machine and not in the method or operation performed by its use, we declare that, therefore, we do not limit the scope of the invention to an apparatus or means tor performing only the operation mentioned, nor to only the particular embodiment of the machine herein illustrated and described, as it is within our contemplation to adapt the machine, with or without modification, t0 other uses, and to modit'y the structural 't'eatu .s ci the ma lchine in ways which may increase its eiliiency Jfor its designed purpose, or 4to adapt it to serve other purposes, within the scope ot the appended claims.

,In the drawings,

Figure 1 represents the machine in iront elevation.

Fig. 2 is an end 'elevation ot the machine as eeen from the right ot Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. l is a central longitudinal section of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a central transverse section of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the' bed and work supporting tables of the machine, the parts above being removed, and those parts which cross the plane of the drawing being shown in section.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the work-pressing means and the holder therefor detached.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the knife-carrying slide.

Fig. 9 is a cross section of the same on line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the kniie block. uFig. 11 is a front elevation of the knife i ocir'."

Fig. 12 is an elevation of the slide shown I in Fig. 8, representing the same as viewed from the left of Fig. 8.

Fig. 13 is an inverted plan view of the detachable supporting plate forthe blank.

Fig. 14: is anV elevation of the same.

Fig. 15 is a detail view on an enlarged scale oit the holding latch for such plate, this view being a section on line 15-15 of rig. is. Y

Fig. 16 is a plan viewfot the forming plate 'for the blank.

Fig. 17 is plan view of a. modiiied torming plate.

Figs. 18 and 19 are sectional views of said plate on lines 18-18 and 19-19, respectively, of Fig. 17. y

Figs. 20 and 21 are respectively a plan view and a longitudinal section of a counter blank after being operated upon in this machine.

is a longitudinal sectional View of the work support and an elevation of the work centering device.

Reference is iirst made to Fig. 5 in order best to give a comprehensive view oi the main parts and operation oi: the machine. The work piece or blank 25, is supported at center on a rigid block 26 and is firmly held the same by a presser foot 27. The ends of the blank extend over forming vplates 28 which are supported on supportforward and rear center line'of the machine are `mainly duplicates of each other, and in all instances where partsY are duplicated, the same reference characters are used for both duplicate parts. With this explanation l will proceed to describe the parts at one side of the above named center line, without referring in each instance to the duplicate partson the opposite side of such line. The supporting plate and with it the forming plate may be adjusted to various heights and inclinations in order to govern ,the angle and extent of the bevel on vwhich the end of the blank is eut, by means of wedges 30 and 3l underlying the outer and inner end portions of thesupporting plate respectively and carried by the respective slides 32 and 33 which pass laterally to the outer side of the machine frame. Y A

The cutting knives are represented by 34 and each moves from a position at one side of and near the longitudinal center line of the machine toward the adjacent side of the machine, in performing its operative stroke. rlhe knife is liked to va knife block 35 which is carried by a vslide 36 which latter is provided with ears 37 supporting a pivot pinv '38 by which the slide is connected to a link l 39. Such link in turn 'is connected to an operating` arm 46 formed as part of a lever pivoted on a stud 41 and having a second arm'42 which is connected by a link or con necting rod 43 with an operating crank pin 44 on a crank 45 carried Yby a shaft 46.V The knife carrying slide 36 is guided by guide rods 47' to travel reetilinearly, and the work supporting plate 29 is adjusted by means of the wedges or lifters 30 and 3l so as to cause aV greater or less extent of the blank end to cross the line in which the knife edge is so caused to travel, and also to regulatethe an-v gle which the end portion of the blank makes with this line. The line of cutting travel of the knife is indicated by the broken line czin Fig. 5. i A

The blank which is shown Vin position for operation in Fig. is shown completed in Figs. and 2l. This blank is a counter stiffener blank which has been, or may have been, already skived at its opposite edges 2.)"1 and but the ends of which, at least 'in part, have too great thickness. After the blank has been placed in the machine and held as above described in relation to the knives, it emerges with its ends beveled at 25C and 25d, the extent and inclination of the end bevels being determined as above de-Y scribed by the adjustment of the lifters or wedges and 3l. Y

l will now describe the mechanical construction of the illustrated machine. The block 26 and slides are all supported on a table 48 which forms the top wall of the ma chine base or frame, such base or frame being a boxelike structure inclosing a space for mechanism and having openings in its up right walls. lt vis supported upon Vlegs 14%) or may be supported or mounted in any other desired manner. 4

ljower for operating the machine is delivered to a shaft 50 from one of the two pulleys 5l, 52 which are shown in Figi 6 as mounted on said shaft, one of these pulleys being fast and the other loose. rlhe shaft also has a hand wheel 53 for use in special circumstances, but which is not employed in the automatic operation of the machine. This shaft carries a miter gear 54 which meshes with a complemental miter gear 55 on a short shaft 56 which runs from front to rear and is shown in end view in Figs; 1 and 5. A pinion`57 on shaft 56 meshes with a gear 58 on one of the crank shafts 46, and l the said pinion also meshes with an intermediate gear 59' on a central shaft 60, and through the intermediate gear drives a gear 6l on the second shaft 46. The gears 56 and 6l are thus rotated in unison in opposite di rections and the cranks 45 carried'by the tivo shafts 46 oscillate the two knife operating levers 40 simultaneously but in relatively oppositedirections so that both knives approach the center of the machine at the same time and bothrecede at the same time. The pivot rods 4l for the knife operating levers are mountedV in the front and rear vertical walls of the base frame-as shown in F ig. l.

The intermediate shaft 60 previously mentioned control'sthe raising and lowering of the frames which carry the presser foot 27, and also carry the guides for the knife carriers 36. Each of these frames consists of two upright rods 62 which pass through the table' 48, a crossbeam 63 within the base frame below the table, and a crossbeam 64 above the table. The beams 64 are on respectively opposite sides of the transverse center line of the machine and each connects one pair of the rods 62, and the lower crossbeams are similarly arranged. Each of the frames so formed supports one of the two guide rods 47 on which the knife carriers are mounted, each end of such guide rod being` secured in a block 65 which is mounted on one of the rods 62 below the adjacent end of the upper crossbeam '64. The upright rods pass through the beams 64 and are provided with nuts 66. Beneath the blocks 65 are capstan headedV adjusting and locking nuts 67, 68, screwed upon the rod 62, which adjust the springs 69 on each rod 62 between the table and the respective locking nut 68j ill of such springs together are suliiciently powerful to elevate the two frames and the knife-carriers and presser foot far enough above the work supporting plates to admit blanks readily, The amountk of possible rise of these frames is limited, and the downward movement of the frames is effected at the proper time, by cams 7U upon iii) Langeac 1 @3;

the shaft 60, each of which cams engages a roll 7l carried in a holder 72 on the lower crossbar 63 immediately adjacent to such cam. The outline of the cams 7() is shown dotted in Figs. l and 5, and both cams are shown in section in Fig. 4. The beams 6ft of the two frames are connected by a crosstie 73 having flanges 74 at its ends, which are fastened in any desired way mechanically to the beams Gd. Said cross-tie is also formed with a central opening 75, shown in Fig. d and in the tie near the ends of this opening are firmly fixed two rods 76 on which the presser foot 27 and a yoke 77 are adapted to slide, said presser foot and yoke having guiding sleeves 78 which receive the guide rods, as shown in Fig. il, the presser foot being below the cross-tie and the yoke 77 being above and bridging the opening 75 therein. The presser foot and yoke are secured together and at the same time spaced apart at the required distance by shouldered tie rods T9 and nuts SO. Springs 8l are mounted on the upper ends of the guide rods 76 between the yoke 77 and adjustable nut abutments threaded on the rods. The springs permit the structure composed of the Apresser foot 2T, the yoke 77, and the tie rods 79 to be raised against a yielding resistance, and they hold the presser foot with a firm elastic pref'- sure, the intensity of which can be regulated by the nuts against the work when ln'ought down upon the same.

Freni the foregoing description it will be seen that the cams 'T0 and springs i139 control the movements of the frame which raise and lower the presser foot. The same nieveinents also raise and lower the knife carriers for the reason that the carrier guide rods lli' are mounted in the saine frame.

Reference is non' directed to Figs. S, 9, and i9. for a showing of one of the knife "Tiers and to Figs. l() and l1, as well 5, for illustration of one of the knife blocks. The carrier 36 is a bar or beam in Fi il. and are slotted or split in their otite des, being provided with adjusting screws fie for taking up wear. appears from Fig. Si each carrier is equijiip-ed with tivo pairs of ears i137 for pivotal connection with the part 3l), which has been already described as a link which connects the carrier 'with its operating lever di). This part or link of composite, construction.consisting of a yoke 39, shown best in Fig. il, the ends of which are pivoted to the pins 38, and a rod 39 which screwed into the central part of the yoke and is clamped by a lock not rilhe rod has an open notch or hook 8G adapted to receive the pivot stud 8T carried by the operating lever e0, which provides the connection between said lever and the link; and said rod also has a handle 88 by which it can be lifted so as to disconnect the notch from the stud 87 for the purpose of enabling the carrier to be moved ineependently of the lever, or for other puroses.

rl`he knife carrying block is made as a hollow casting having an inclined lower wall, as shown in Fig. to which the knife 84C is detachably secured. The cutting edge of the knife projects beyond the adjacent side wall of the block, and such wall is made concave to provide a recess 89 which facilitates the disposal of the' chips cut from the work. r:The concavity or recess S9 is made without any sharp corners at its bounding edges, whereby the emergence of the chips is facilitated and no chance is afforded for the chips to lodge. Said block also has flanges 90 at its opposite ends for attachment to the carrier, said flanges being adapted to pass into the recess afforded between the under side of the carrier, a shoulder Sil on the carrier, and a clamping piece 92 which is fastened to the under side of said shoulder by an attaching bolt The knife block when being mounted upon the carrier is moved horizontally until its flanges enter this recess and bring' up aoainst a stop pin 94ron the clamp 9:2. rlhen the bolt 923 nis tightened up to bind the block. lt is to be understood that the carrier is of the same form at both ends and is equipped with two clamps and stops, bot-h of which are constructed and arranged as above described.

Ilfieferring again to Fig. 5 there will be found means for pressing down the work immediately in advance of the action of the lniife and causing the work to conform to the supporting surface of the forming plate. The embodiment of means here shown consists of fingers 95 of which there is a comparatively large number adjacent to each knife, the fingers of each set being pivoted on a rod 9G carried by a holder such holder being shown in plan in Fig. T, in elevation at the left hand of Fig. 2 and in Fig. l., and in section in Fig. The two ends of the holder 97 are depressed beine' its middle portion and are adapted to lie be neath the extension of the bearing sleeve 83 on the knife carrier. Flach of such ends has a notch 98 adapted to be slipped over and to receive the shank of the holding screw 99 which is tapped into the said efrtension. By setting up the screws 99 on opposite ends of the knife carrier, the iinger holder is clamped to the carrier and snpported thereby. rl"he end portions of said holder also have lugs l0() containing screws 101, which are adapted to against the knife carrier and adjust the location ofithe holder and fingers in reupec" knife. Y rEhe raised central part of said not heads 106 resting on the holder.

is well above the fingers audits under surface is also above the upper termination of the concavity 89 of the knife block,thereby providing an ample channel for escape of chips. A cover plate 102 overlies the fingers and prevents the chips cut from the work from falling between and clogging the fingers. Said plates may be secured in any suitable way to the linger holders.

As appears best from Fig. 5 the fingers extend from the pivot rod toward the adj acent knife and terminate slightly below the edge of the knife and close to the same. Each linger has an outwardly extending arm or tail piece 103 which rests on an abutment 104:, the latter being a bar underlying all the arms of the series and supported at its opposite ends by rods 105 which pass through portions of the holder 97 and have The tail extensions 103 of the fingers are resilient so that the lingers may yield in passing over the stock, but they are at the saine time stiff enough to cause the lingers to apply a powerfulpressure to the work.

The function of these fingers is to press the work piece against the iori'ning plate immediately in advance of the knife, thereby preventing` the end of the piece from being lifted up by the knife and cut olf too short, but at the same time the fingers are adapted to yield when passing over the rising end of the work where the upper surface of such end passes above the path of the knife edge. The-fact that there are many fingers acting on the same work piece, each finger being movable independently of the others and overlying only a narrow portionv of the work piece enables the lingers to yield independently for local irregularities in the surface ofthe work and also causes the under surface of the work to conform to the surface of the forming plate 28.

Springs 1027 Vsurround the rods 105 and react between the body of the holder and collars 108 adjustably mounted on the rods,

thereby normally holding the abutment bar 104 in its lowermost position but permitting the same to be raised when necessary.

The formation which Vis given to` the skived or clipped surface of the work is determined by the formingl plate in combination with the fingers $5. Where suoli plate has a plane supporting surface, as is the case with the plate 2S shown in 5 and 16, the knife forms a plane surface making an acutel angle with the opposite surface of the work, but when the forming plate is otherwise shaped, other results are produced in the wor r. For instance, supposing it is desired to form the skived surface withy a convex curvature, a forming plate such as the plate 28a shown in Figs. 17, 18, and 19 is used. This plate has a concaved recess 109, the outline of which conforms to der in the lower end of the sleeve.

the outline of the work piece, and the sur? face of which is the complement of the surface which it is desired to produce upon the work. Vrlhe fingers in passing over the work press the end portion thereof into the recess 109 causing the under surfaceV of the piece to conform exactly with the surface of the recess and bending the exposed surface of the work out of its normal form. The surface left by the knife, although plane as long as the work is so distorted by theV lingers, becomes of the desired curvature when the work piece is allowed to resume its normal shape. By selecting suitable forming plates the work may be cut with any desired contour of its skived surface.

y .The adjustment of the lifter wedges 80 and 31 for the supporting plates 29 is effected by screws 110- and 111, the former being engaged with a lug 112 on the slide 32 and with a lug 113 on a frame 1111 which is fixed to the table of the machine and is undercut to provide a guideway for the slide. The other screw passes through a lug 115 on the slide 33 and is screwed into the side `of the base. These screws have adjustable nuts 116 threaded upon them by which the adjustments are affected in anV obvious manner. The inner end member 117 of the frame 114i provides an abutment for the outer edge of the supporting plate 29, while the anvil block 26 provides the abutment for the opposite edge of plate. rPhus displacement laterally of the plate is prevented. T he supporting plate is further retained in place and firmly held against the adjusting wedges by means of latches 118, see Figs. 13, 14, and 15, which are mounted at the lower ends of sleeves 119 at the front and rear edges of the plate and are adapted to be turned so as to underlie shoulders 120 in the table of the frame. Each latch has a shank 121 and a head 122 contained in the sleeve and actedron by a spring 123 which surrounds the shank and presses upwardly against the head, reacting against a shoul- These latches do not prevent the plates from being tilted and raised by the wedges, but they hold the plates firmly-against the wedges.

The table of the base, the slides 32 and 33, and the frame 114: have registering openings through which the operating levers 40 pass.

The blanks to be operated on bythe machine are laid by the operator one at a time on a table 124 at the front of the machine, shown in Figs. l and 6, between adjustable gages 125 and immediately in rear of upstanding pins 126. The blanksare Vthen carried by an intermittently traveling iso machine base inguidc troughs provided for them therein and also in the block 2G, around guide pulleys 128 at the rear of the machine, tlveuce dowuwarllly and around lower guide pulleys thence itoifwaiding beneath the machine, around a 'third set of guide wheels 1330, and up to the driving` sprockets 131, which are mounted directly under the location in which the Work blanks are placed. '.llhe conveyorv chains carry pushers 132 and c'rippers 133. The pushers are upstanding lingers secured to or formed upon certain links oi the chain suitable distances apart, and the grippers are springs fixed upon linhs adjacent to those from which the pushers rise and projecting from their points of attachment 'torwardly, with respect to the direction in which they travel. di n Y the chain is straightthc gripper spring' is pressed against a linl; in advance ot tl ie one to which it is attached, but when the chain is bent in passing around the driving sprocket or a pulley, the tree end oit the spring is lifted relatiyely to the link on which it previously pressed. This action of thn gripper, effected by the bending of 'the chain, is made use of to effect an automatic grasping and releasing o1I the Work. Thus the location ci the place Where the blanks are laid by the attendant of the machine is t the point Where the springs are still raised from the adjacent forward links in passing around the sprockets 131. The chains pass under the blank almostin contact with the under sartene thereof, and the springs pass orer the blanks until the pusher fingers come into Contact With the bl ank. By the time the pusher-s have engaged and advanced the blank, the chain has become so tar straightened as to bring` the adjacent spring grpper against the Work. After the conveyor has placed the Work in the operating position, and lntuseil, it carries it on, and in passing` aromul the rear guide wheel 128 the grip pers are again relaxed and the blank is alloue-fl to tall into a receptacle placed bei nth.. This device constitutes a very sim ple means 'l'for autouiatically grasping` and irleasing the Werl; pieces and makinpn it unnecessary for the operator to place the pieces accurately on the conyeyer.

."i. means 'tor securing the accurate location of the Work pieces and causing them to abut squarely against the pusher fingers is provided by a presser which is shown in 9 (5, and 22 (being omitted from the .figures 'tor clearness). This presser'is constituted by a bar 11.34% and a :torltcd arm 135 which on the tables 12e and 1413, resperatirely.` between the chains of thecon- Voyer.y and are pressed `upon by springs so that they may yield to permit the blanks to pass under them, and at the same time press on and hold bach the blanhs in equal en.n @Cement with the pusher fingers of both chains. A. rod 1355? which is supported and held rigidly by posts 13G at each side of the chains, so as to bridge over the path ot feeding, has tired on it frame consisting of arms 13G and 1361), the latter having a housing 136C. Bar 134i has slots 13e in its ends which admit pins 136d on the arms of the iframe, and a spring 136e is confined between the bar and traine arm 136i. The forked bar 135 has a slot 135b containing a pin 1. 5 on arm 136, and is pressed. down by a flat spring 1351, Jfastened at one end oi arm 136b and bearing` at its opposite end on the bar 135. The branches ot' this bar lie across the anvil block 26 on each side ot the presser 227.

` The means for driving the conveyor with an intermittent motion and causing it to stop when each Work piece is in the proper position to be operated on, consists of the following` mechanism. The shaft 60 .carries a miter gear 131- (Fig. l) meshing with a coinpleinental gear 138 (Fig. 1) on a transverse shaft 139 on which there is loosely mounted a gear 14.0 Which meshes With a ,eear 141 on a parallel shaft 142 which carries the sprocket Wheels 131. This shaft car-v ries also a control disk 111:3 having two stop shoulders 144: in its periphery. A latch 1115 is pivoted on a pin 146 and has an arm i-t7 Which isacted on by a spring 11113 so aste press the latch toward the periphery ot the control disk, said latch being in the same plane with the dish. The latch also has a finger 14:9 projecting' toward and in the 100 path of a striker 150 on the shaft 139. The gear 1410 is iirictionally driven by the shaft 139 through a friction dish 151 which may be of Wood, or has a Wood tace next to the gear, and is splined to the shaft and is 105 pressed against the face ot the gear by a spring 152 under a pressure Which is adjustable by the nuts 153. The force applied to the gear by the 'friction disl; is suliicicnt to drive the conreycr and the Work pieces, L10 but insutlicient to brealr ther chain or strip the gear teeth when the disk L13 is arrested by the latch.

lt will be understood that the striker '150 is rotated constantly and that upon each 115 rotation it disengages the latch 145 troni the adjacent stop shoulder 14:11. As soon as the latch is thus disengaged the shaft 1413 is free to turn, and is turned Aby the gear 140. When a half revolution oi the shatt 14:3 has 12o been completed, the4 next stop shoulder is arrested by the latch.y which has in the incantime been allowed to return against the control disk by the passage of the striker 150. The 'Work grippers and pushers on the con- 125 veyer are properly located and timedwith respect to the stop shoulders M1 so as to place a blank properly beneath the presser foot and the knives at each stop of the con- Voyer.

have been made sul'liciently clear by the foregoing description of the mechanical parts to make any detailed description of operation unnecessary .It may be observed, however, that the knife `carrier and the holder or carrier for the presser fin gers are moved up and down simultaneously with the presser foot, thereby moving the knife and presser'ingers clear of the work during the feeding movements of the conveyer, and bringing these parts into proper operating relation to the work whenever the presser foot is brought down to clamp the work. As the driving mechanism for the knife actuating levers 40 is constantly in operation, the cams 70 are timed so as to lower the frames carrying the presser foot and the knives into their. working location'atthe instant when the knife carriers are at the inner limit ofA travelQ rlhe operators control of the machine is given by the fast andfloose ,belt pulleys 5l and 52, and by thelinks 39. Y The operator can start or stop the machine by shiftingt1 automatic in all respects, including the grasping and releasing ofthe work by the conveyor, and the startingV and stopping ofy the conveyer.V The operator can, however, if there is anyV occasion for doingA so, interrupt the movement of the knife carriers and the work pressers, yby disconnecting the cariier actuating link from Vits actuating leopposite side of the machine.` ut Vsuch teimsas front,77 iorward, advance,`

and the like, used in respect to the conveyer, have reference to the direction vin which the conveyer travels. All these, and other terms used in describing the machine, are

descriptive terms chosen with reference to their aptness Yto this particular machine,

vand have no'limiting significance.

1What we lclaim 4and desire to secure by Letters YPatentfis 1. A cutting machine including two knives mounted to move apart andtoward ene another, a work support, means for holding the end portions of the work at an inclination to side of such paths, whereby the work is out at both ends on a bevel.

2. A cutting machine including two travel- 11G" belt from one pulley to the otheiybut after, the machine is in operation it is `entirely ing knives, a work support, said work support including portions arranged to hold the ends of the work piece inclined to andV extending across the paths in which the edges of the said knives travel, and means for adjusting said portions to vary the inclination Vof the ends of the work and the extent of the work which crosses the said paths. Y

3. A machine for clipping the ends of a counter blank on a bevel comprising a work support and a presser arranged to grip the blank at a distance from its ends, two knives guided to travel from a point near the gripped part of the blank outwardly toward the ends thereof, said knives being arranged with their edges transverse to the direction in which they travel, and means for inclining the ends of the blank so as tocause such ends to cross the paths of the knife edges.v

4. A machine for clipping the endsrof shoe counter'blanks comprising means for grasping the central portion of the blank, two knives arranged on respectively opposite sides of said grasping means and movable outwardly from positions near said means in the directions in which the ends of the blank extend', means for so moving said knives in unison, and means for holding the ends of the blank inclined to and across the paths of the respective knives.

5. A machine for clipping the ends of counter blanks, comprising two knives guided'to move in a definitepath and each having its edge arranged transverse to its direction of travel, work holding4 means ranged to support said blank so thata portionthereof crosses the path of each knife edge at an inclination thereto and a yielding presser traveling with each knife in the path thereof arranged to press'the work against the support.

6. A cutting machine comprising a work support, a knife carrier arranged to travel over said support, a knife secured to said carrier, and a series of independently yieldable fingers of resilient structure arranged side by side, being supported by the carrier a distance in front of the knife and extending from their point of support toward the knife edge oppositely to the .direction of cutting travel at an Vacute angle to such direction, Vfor holding the work againstY the support and preventing the same from being raised by the action of the knife.

'7. Acutting machinecomprising a knife, a work support including a forming plate arranged to .support that portion of the work which is acted on by the knife, and aV series of fingers arranged closely adjacent to one another in a line approximately,parallel to the edge of the knife andeach being independently pressed yieldingly toward the forming plate, said knife and lingers being movable over the Work on said plate and the fingers being adapted to conform the Work to the surface of said plate.

8. ln a cutting 1n.- chinc, guiding ineens, a knife carrier arranged to travel on said 2@guiding means, a knife block having` flanges, said carrier being provided with recesses adapted to receive said iianges in a readily removable manner, clamps for securingsaid flanges in said recesses, and a knife secured to said block.

9. ln a cutting machine, guiding means, a knife carrier arranged to travel on said guidingl means, a knife block having` flanges, said carrier being provided ivith recesses adapted to receive said flanges in. a readily removable manner, clamps for securing said 'flanges in said recesses, the knife block having; an inclined end Wall, and a knife secured to said end Wall with its cutting edge projecting` beyond an adjacent side Wall of the block.

l0. In a cutting' machine the combi ation of a carrier, a knife block depend from said carrier and having a knife on its lovver end, and work pressing fingers supported by said carrier in advance of said knife, said lingers being arranged in a series approximately rio-extensive with the length of the knife and being independently yielding` against resilient resistance aivay `from the plane of action of the knife, and saidknife block beine' recessed at the side adjacent to said fingers and inclined forwardly Vin the direction of cutting travel to provide a for-l wardly dischargino,` passage for escape oi'. chips cut by the knife.

1i. ln a cutting machine the combination of carrier, a knife block depending, from said carrier and having; a knife on its lower end, Work pressing),` lingers supported by said carrier in advance of said knife, said lingers being arranged in a series approximately cri-extensive with the length of the knife' and being' independently yielding?l against resilient relstance Vaway from the plane of action of the knife, and avcover plate overlying; said fingers to prevent chips from lodging' between the lingers, a passage being' provided between said plate and the knife and knife block to' permit escape of chips.

1Q, .ln a cutting machine the combination of a Work support havingr its supporting; surface formed accordino' to the character delsired to be given to the surface produced by cutting in the Werl-z, a knife carrierarranoed to travel over said ivork support, a. knife lined toV said carrier. a pivot rod secured to said 'carrier in advance ofthe knife and means for a iplvinoj pressure indei l e l.

pendently to numerous closely adjacent localities of the Work in advance of said rnife,ivlierehy to conform the Work closely to the surface of said support,said pressureapplying means comprising a series of independently yielding fingers pivoted on said rod, each having a resilient arm, and a fixed abutment against which said arms bear.

i3. ln a cutting machine, a knife guided to travel with its edge in a given plane, and a Work support comprising holding means adapted to grasp a portion of the Work and adjustable supporting;` means arranged to hold another portion of the Work across said plane and at an inclination thereto, said means being` adjustable transversely to said plane.

ift. ln a cutting, machine, a knife `guided to travel with its edge in a given plane, and a Work support comprising holding means adapted to grasp a portion'of the Work, adjustable sujiiportingr means for holding' anr` f the work atan inclination to Jhe l`grasped portion and to said plane, and means for so moving said supporting` means as to alter the angle between said other portion and said plane.

l5', ln a (sitting,- inacliii'ie,' a` Work support adaiiited to support a portion of the Work a presser foot forholdine the Work ap; nst said support, an adjustable support for supporting; another part of the Work, said adjustable support being movable transversely to the surface of the Work piece, and a knife guided to travel with its edge in a plane substantiallyparallel to said sui'- face. Y

lo. ln a cutting machine, a support adapted to support a portion of the Work piece, a: plate adjoining' said support, over which a part of the Work is adapted to extend, and an ai'ljusting member engaging; said plate and operable to displace the edge thereof most remote from said support in such manner as to alter the inclination of the supporting' surface of the plate to said support.

17. ln a cutting; machine, a support adapted to support a portion. of the Work piece, a plate adoininn' said si'ipport over which a part of ie Work is adapted to entend, and an adjusting;-inciuber ou which the opposite side of said plate from the supporting` surfare near the edgre most remote from said support thereof bears, said men'iher being; movable to alter the inclination of the plato to said support.

18. ln a cutting); machine, clamping means adapted to grasp part of the Work piece, a plate adjacent to saidciamping` means havin a surface over which the Work piece may project and lie, and adjusting'means hearinn von the side of said plate opposite to said surface andin proximity to the opposite edges of the plate the construction Aand arrangement being` such that movementlof said i adjusting meansmay shiftthe parts' of said plate on Which they respectively bear transporting plate having a yielding means for plate. Y j f 25. In a machine forV bevel cutting the anchoring its central portion, and independently adjustable means adapted to displace the opposite edge portions of said plate in a direction transverse to the plane of theplate.

20. In a cutting machine in combination with afknife guided and operated to travel with its edge in a fixed plane, a work supporting plate adapted to hold work extending across such plane at an inclination thereto, and means for altering the position of the plate as a whole, and also its inclination, with respect to said plane.

21. In a cutting machine, a work supporting member mounted with capacity for movement transversely to the 4plane of its supportingsurface and adjusting members arranged to act on said work supporting member adjacent to the opposite edges thereof 'and independently operable to shift the portions of the supporting member on ywhich they act transversely to the supporting surfaceof said supporting member.

22.1In a cutting machinea work support mounted with capacity for movement transversely to its supporting surface, adjusting wedges underlying the opposite edge portions of said support, and means for shifting said wedges whereby to vary the position and inclination of said support.

23. In a cutting machine a work supporting plate having inclined faces' near its opposite edges at the side opposite to the supporting surface thereof, and being mounted with capacity for movement transversely to such surface and adjusting members engaging said linclined faces and being mov-,

able independently of one another in directions Yapproximately parallel to the plane of the supporting f surface, whereby to shift and tilt said plate to the desired extent.

24. In a cutting machine the combination with a table of al work supporting plate mounted loosely on said table, adjusting members underlying the opposite side edges of said plate and movable across the table, said plate having inclined surfaces engaged by said members, respectively, and independent adjusting means for shifting said members Vindependently of one another whereby to'lift the plate to a greater or less extent at different parts thereof and thereby vary the lheight and inclination of the lends of a counter blank, the combination with means` for supporting a counter and a presser foot l arranged to bear` upon the lmiddle part ofthe counter, of knives located at each side of said presser foot, mechanism Y for movingV said knives simultaneously away from said presser foot, and meansl for holding the opposite end portions ofthe blank to cross the paths of theV respective knives 'at an inclination thereto, whereby said knives are adapted to skive both end portions of the blank simultaneously. i Y

, 26. In a cutting machine the combination with a Ywork support, of a knife carrier, a guide on which said knife carrier is adapted to travel in directions approximately parallel to the work support, and means for shifting the guide and therewith theknife carrier away from the support to permit placing of work pieces, and toward the support into cutting position.

27. In a cutting machine, two knifeV carriers, guides on which said knifeV carriers are supported and guided to move in line with each other, an operating lever linked to each of said carriers and mechanism for oscillating said levers simultaneously to move said carriers toward and away from one another.

28. In a cutting machine, the combination with a work support of a frame supported over said work support and movable up and down, laterally extending guiding means on said frame, aknife carrier supported and movable on said guiding means.. mechanism for raising and lowering said frame and mechanism for moving said knife carrier back and forth, said mechanisms being so timed as to ,i cause the knife carrier to move in one'direction when the frame is raised and in the opposite direction `when `the frame is lowered.

29. In a cutting machine, a knife carrier, a guide onwhich said carrier is movably mounted, a frame or holder carryingsaid guide and being movable in a` direction transverse to that in which the knife carrier moves on said guide, andmechanisms for moving said frame or holder back and forth between two positions and for moving said knife lcarrier back and forth, respectively, said mechanisms being so timed as to move the knife carrier in one directionwlien the frame is in one of said positions', and in the opposite ydirection when the frame is in the Vother of said positions. i

knife block constructed to enter said recess and having flanges at itsends arranged to pass between said clamps and the body of thecarrier, and a knife secured to said i knife block. .Y

31. VIn a cutting machine, a knife carrier movably mounted, Van actuating lever for movingsaid knife carrier and a link join- Ving said carrier and lever, the link having a hook portion engaged with said lever and extending therefrom adapted for instant disengagement therefrom.

32. In a cutting machine, the combination with a base, of upright rods passing through said base and arranged in pairs, parallel beams secured to the members of each pair of rods, and a cross tie secured to said beams, and a presser foot mounted on said cross tie extending toward said base and being yieldingly projected toward the same.

In a cutting machine, the combination with a base, of upright rods passing through said base and arranged in pairs, parallel beams secured to the members of each pair of rods, and a cross tie secured to said beams, a presser foot mounted on said cross tie extending toward said base and being yieldingly projected toward the same, a guide supported by each pair of rods, a knife carrier mounted on said guides beside said presser foot and a knife block having a knife at its extremity projecting from said carrier toward the base.

811-. In a cutting machine the combination with a knife carrier, a knife block projecting from said carrier having a knife at its extremity, a presser holder secured to said knife carrier and having a pivot rod, and presser ngers arranged side by side on said rod and extending therefrom toward the edge of said knife.

35. In a cutting machine, the combination with a knife carrier and a knife mounted thereon, of a holder connected to said knife carrier and having a pivot rod, presser iingers mounted side by side on said rod and extending therefrom toward the knife, each of said fingers having a resilient extension, and an abutment connected to said holder and engaging the extensions of said lingers.

86. In a cutting machinethe combination with a knife carrier and a knife mounted thereon, of a holder connected to said knife carrier and having a pivot rod, presser fingers mounted side by side on said rod and extending therefrom toward the knife, each of said fingers having a resilient extension, and an abutment connected to said holder and engaging the extensions of said fingers, said abutment being arranged between said extensions and the plane of action of the knife, whereby to resist movement of the fingers away from such plane.

37. In a cutting machine having a knife, a work support, a carrier holding said knife, one of the parts constituted by said carrier and support being movable relatively to the other for cutting, and means for pressing the work against the support comprising a series of pressers pivoted side by side to the knife carrier at the side thereof toward which the knife acts in cutting, and extending from their pivot axis on a slant toward the work support, each of said pressers being freely and independently movable about such axis and provided with a resilient finger, and an adjustable abutment against which said fingers bear arranged in position to oppose movement of the pressers away from the work support.

38. In a cutting machine having a knife, a contrivance for pressing on the work in advance of the knife consisting of a holder, a pivot rod mounted on said holder, a series of fingers arranged side by side on said pivot rod and each nger having a resilient extension, and a rigid abutment connected to said holder against which said extensions bear.

39. An automatic cutting machine comprising a work support, a cutting knife, a work conveyer, means for moving said work conveyer intermittently and causing the same to pause with a blank upon said work support, a presser arranged over the work support, means for urging the presser toward the work support while the work piece is in position thereover, and means for moving the knife while the work is so held.

40. In a cutting machine in combination with a work support, a means for holding work on said support comprising a frame, guide rods projecting from said frame toward the work support, a presser foot movably mounted on said guide rods', a yoke rigidly connected to said presser foot and adapted to rest on said frame, and springs yieldingly pressing said yoke toward said frame, whereby the presser foot is yield ingly projected toward the work support.

41. In a cutting machine, the combination.

with a work support, of means for clamping work thereon, comprising a frame holder mounted over the support and movable toward and away from the same, a presser member having portions resting on said holder and having another portion project ing toward the work support, and being movable away from the support relatively to the holder, and a spring acting on said presser member to urge the same toward the support.

42. In a cutting machine, the combination with a work support, means for clamping the work thereon, comprising a holder movable toward and away from the support, a presser foot between said holder and work support, a yoke rigidly connected to said presser foot and overlying portions of the holder away from the work support, guide rods rigidly carried by the support on which the presser foot and yoke are guided to move toward and away from the work support, abutmentson said guide rods, and springs interposed between said abutments and the yoke acting to press said yoke toward the adjacent part of the holder and to Vproject the presser foot from the holder toward the work support.

. Work pieces so held, an endless conveyer for placing the'work pieres on the support, a main shaft, Vmechanism by'which said'main sha-ft moves said presser toward theV Work support, mechanism by Which said shaft'V operates said knife, and intermittently aetf ing. means operated by the shaft for driving the conveyer.

44A. A cutting machine comprising means for holding a Work piece, a movable knife, an endless conveyer forV transporting Work pieces to said holding means, a main shaft, mechanism driven by said shaft for moving the knife, and intermittently acting mecha-` nism operated by said shaft for driving the eonveyer, arranged and operating to cause the conveyer to stand still While the knife operates, and to move the conveyer While the knife is inoperative. Y Y

45. A cutting machine comprising mea-ns forholding a Work piece, a movable knife, an endlessV conveyer for transporting AWork pieces to said holding means, a main shaft, mechanism driven by said shaft for moving the knife, a secondshaft driven by the main shaft, a gear frictionally held on said second shaft, connections through which said gear drives the conveyer, means arranged to arrest the gear When the knife is actuated to cut, and means for disabling said arresting means When the knife is inoperative, Whereby the gear is enabled, to move the conveyer at such times. Y Y i 46. A cutting machine comprising means for holding a Work piece, a movable knife, an endless conveyer for transporting Work pieces to said holding means, a main shaft,

mechanism driven by said shaft for moving the knife, a second shaft driven by the main shaft, a gear on the second shaft frictionally clutched thereto to turn therewith and arranged to drive the conveyor, a disk having a stop shoulder, driven by said gear, a stop adapted to engage said stop shoulder to arrest the disk and gear, andal member secured to the second shaft arranged to displace said stop; the stop sheulderbeing located to engage the stop when the, knife operatos, and the stop-displacing member being arranged to act as set forth when the knife is inoperative. Y,

47. A. cutting machine comprising means for holding a Work piece, a movable knife, an endless conveyor for transporting Work .pieces to said holding means, a main shaft,

mechanism dri-ven by said shaft for moving the knife, a second shaft driven by the main shaft, a gear on the second shaft frictionally restrained from rotation relatively thereto, a third shaft driven by'said gear and en gaged with the conveyer vtodrive the latter,

' a stop disk mounted on the third shaft and having a stop shoulder, a complemental stop arranged to engage said shoulder and arrest the third shaft when the knife is operated, and a member carried by the second shaft arranged to' displace said stop from engagement with the shoulder when the knife is inoperative. Y Y l In testimony whereof We have aflixed our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES XV. BAILEY. I JOHN HAMMOND STEWART. lVitnesses:

W. F. CRAIG, Y Jol-IN INGRAM. 

